Prepping for the Final Four ... UConn, Michigan State, North Carolina, Villanova

So they've gone down to Philly and crushed Chattanooga and Texas A&M, gone out to Arizona and proved better than Purdue and Missouri. Now they head to Detroit, the Final Four, and -- what do you know -- Michigan State awaits. You come all this way, make it to college basketball's grandest stage and you play Michigan State in Michigan.

So be it, UConn players and coach Jim Calhoun are saying. We're in the Final Four, they say. It's our five against their five.

It will be interesting. The environment should be unbelievable. About 70,000 people -- yes, 70,000 are expected to attend at Ford Field -- and surely a large percentage of that record crowd will be wearing Spartan green.

More on this is tomorrow's Courant ...

Some other things to chew on as you gear up for the Final Four:

-Jeff Adrien sat out practice Monday with a sore right knee. Tendinitis in that knee flares up from time to time and Adrien was particulary sore after playing 39 minutes against Missouri. He's expected to be fine for Saturday's game, as is Hasheem Thabeet.

-Kemba Walker was sensation in helping UConn get to the Final Four, particular when he came up with 23 points in the Regional Final against Missouri. "He was the MVP of the 18 and under national team last year," coach Jim Calhoun said. "We knew how [good] he was. He was a McDonald's All American. Until he came here, he really wasn't that quick. It was me teaching him my speed. No. ... I said it a long time ago that he's a one man fast break. He really, really is."

Walker's value is off the charts. He can spell A.J. Price at the point. He pushes the fastbreak. He can get to the rim against the shot clock because of his sharp charge in direction off the dribble. He's lightning quick -- Ty Lawson is probably the only player who can keep up with Walker at the Final Four. The only thing missing is a consistent jump shot. He passes well, rebounds well for his size and, recently, has shown that he's unafraid of the big stage and the bright lights.

-Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada (city of Windsor). I'm told that's where all the casinos are. Not that it matters ... UConn was to practice today and Wednesday in Storrs before traveling to the Motor City Wednesday afternoon. Want to join them there? Travel packages, comprised of game tickets and hotel rooms, are available by calling 1-888-GO-UCONN or by visiting UConnHuskies.com. Packages may also be purchased which include charter air travel to Detroit. Pricing information is available at UConnHuskies.com. You've got a few hours left, until 5 p.m. ... Jim Calhoun, of course, has experienced two Final Fours. He wants this group of players to both enjoy it and realize there is business at hand. "Trying to find that great niche between having the kids enjoy the tournament, trying to get into the gym, when you have fans there early, and taking them out to eat, and doing the things that recognize just what a great season you've had," Calhoun said. "And somewhere Thursday, late Thursday, start to turn into getting ready in game mode. I just think that's what you need. To balance between enjoying the accomplishment of getting there, enjoying the fanfare, which is what the Final Four is all about. But then turning in to trying to win two basketball games. That is the best advice I could give anybody. I want my kids to enjoy it. I really, really do, and I think they will. Then, try to win two basketball games. I think that's what all of us going in there feel that way. We want to win two basketball games." ... Calhoun spoke to friend and Final Four opposing coach Tom Izzo of Michigan State Monday. Izzo is in the Final Four for the fifth time in the last 11 years. Calhoun also spoke to Villanova's Jay Wright, who is making his Final Four debut in eight years at Nova. "I think Jay had defined his career a long time before this," Calhoun said. "I think, obviously the incredible resurgence going back to the days when Steve Lappas was there and Rollie Massimino. But no question that Jay's put his own mark on it, and this is a special, special, just a special time for his kids, for Villanova University. Jay and I have talked and I know he's incredibly excited as I am. This doesn't get old by the way, I can tell you that much right now. But no question, I do think that people rightly or wrongly, postseason play has become the ultimate judgment of maybe success and failure eventually in this business. And Jay certainly has succeeded now in an incredible win over Pittsburgh. He'll be looked at a little bit differently now, no question, as well he should be. But he's a terrific basketball coach. Villanova did a wonderful job of beating a great, great Pittsburgh team."

-Goran Suton. He'll be a handful for UConn. A versatile post player, somewhat similar to Luke Harangody, he had 20 points and nine rebounds in the Sweet 16 against Kansas and 19 and 10 in the Regional Final against Louisville. "We play against Harangody, a terrific player from Notre Dame," Calhoun said. "He does not go outside as much as Suton does. But nevertheless, he's a similar type player. He's become a terrific, terrific basketball player. I think for Suton he's always been a great player. Tommy [Izzo] is the only guy who can't rebound because of his size. But everybody else can really, really rebound. You know, he's a good post player. But he's extended his game now to make him and incredible high post player. He puts pressure on you. He'll make threes." ... Izzo on Thabeet and Suton having different strengths: "I think there is some truth to that," Izzo said. "I can't sit here and tell you I know how I counter [Thabeet] because I just started watching a lot of film. I watched Connecticut play a lot this year. But when you watch him as a fan, you don't watch him the same way you do as a coach or an opponent. I'm trying to look at some teams that are playing smaller guys on him. Everybody's playing a smaller guy on him. Because nobody's got anybody near that size. But at the same time, you know, you're trying to get a feel for him, because sometimes he just does some things that are incredible for his size. You know, I can't say we'll even know until we get there. But at the same time I agree with [Purdu coach] Matt Painter. I heard his interview after the game. He said he's a hard guy to prepare for. It's a hard guy to simulate in practice, and that their strength and speed, they're athletes. That's probably going to be true. I think the only plus we've had is playing a team that's not as big, but very athletic. A USC team who is very athletic. And Kansas had, you know, a player that, not as big, but a very good post player. You know, it gives us some feel for it, but I don't think it will be determined until we get to the game."

Final Result of the Final 4 (Championship Game Result) North Carolina Over Connecticut, 3/2North Carolina Over Michigan State, 3/1Connecticut Over North Carolina, 9/2Connecticut Over Villanova, 15/2Michigan State Over North Carolina, 12/1Villanova Over Michigan State, 16/1Villanova Over Connecticut, 16/1Michigan State Over Villanova, 20/1

-UNC and MSU are back at Ford Field. The Tar Heels crushed the Spartans 98-63 in a meeting at Ford Field in December. It was clear then that Carolina was a favorite to return in April. How was Michigan State feeling after that loss?

"I should straighten that out," Izzo said. "Who knows if we can beat UConn, who knows what happens. But if we have to play Carolina again, they might beat us by 30 again. But in that setting, that day to use every excuse we can -- we came off our Florida trip, played three games down there, we did not have Suton, did not have Delvon Roe much, and we didn't play good, and they played very good. But I did not look at that game in any way, shape and form in looking at how we are. .., I think they're that good. But I think we're a lot better. We were a lot better then, we just didn't play better that night for various reasons. That is not something I'd lose sleep over every night, I can promise you that. That doesn't mean if we met again, the outcome -- they're a very talented, good, experienced, deep team. But I think we're a lot better team. When people say, How can Michigan State get to a Final Four? They lost by 30 to North Carolina. I don't look at it that way."

-Welcome to the party, Jay Wright. You're the only Final Four coach without a Final Four appearance or a national title.

"This is definitely like one of those pictures you look at, choose which doesn't belong here, you know," Wright said. "But I think the three of them, you know, have been in these situations together. You know, when you get to the level that all three of these guys are, there are just certain experiences that you have, certain situations you're invited to that, you know, you have in common, and you get to know each other. One of the things about the three of them that is very similar, Jim being in our league, he's one of the first ones to call me and congratulate me about going to the tournament. I love him. He is the toughest guy in the world to compete against, but he is a coach's coach. He respects coaching. And he's been great to me. I've learned a lot from him being in the East. From my Hofstra days I used to go see him in clinics and watch his videos. Tom and Roy, you know, you watch them. You watch success. And you try to emulate what they do and try to figure out what makes them different. You know, those guys are incredibly successful. Probably just as humble as they are successful, and most of all, they're probably better guys and people than they are coaches. Both of them have always been great to me anywhere they see me. They go out of their way in any way to help you. You've got three big-time guys here. That's why they are in the position they're in."

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